SBS’s Love Scout in Trouble? Shocking Scandal Rocks K-Drama’s Success

The new SBS romance K-drama Love Scout has captured the attention of viewers within just a week of its debut. Despite minimal promotion, the show quickly gained momentum, with impressive growth in viewership during its first three episodes. However, this success now hangs in the balance as the series is overshadowed by a controversy involving its producer, Ham Jun Ho.
Producer Ham Jun Ho’s Past Scandal Resurfaces
Ham Jun Ho, the producer behind Love Scout, has become the center of attention following the resurfacing of a scandal from 2020. Allegations of assault and defamation under the influence led to Ham’s arrest at the time. On January 13 (KST), the production team issued a statement confirming the incident.
According to the statement, Ham faced charges of assault and defamation and later offered sincere apologies to the victims, leading to a settlement after receiving their forgiveness. Following the incident, he was suspended from his role as a director for three years before eventually returning to work.
The controversy reignited after a report by MBC Newsdesk from 2020 re-emerged online. While the report didn’t explicitly name Ham, it described an SBS producer “A” involved in the incident. Blurred images in the report allowed netizens to identify him. The report detailed how Ham was accused of pouring soju on passersby and physically assaulting them in Hannam. Although police sought his arrest due to a criminal record, the prosecution rejected the request.
Production Team Addresses Allegations
In their recent statement, the production team clarified that Ham’s past criminal record was a misdemeanor unrelated to the 2020 incident. Despite these explanations, public concern about the producer’s involvement in the series remains.
Viewer Interest Wanes Amid Controversy
The controversy has begun to affect the show’s trajectory. Ratings for Love Scout are now under pressure, and audience interest has waned after the latest episode’s storyline received mixed reviews. With the drama’s future hanging in the balance, viewers and critics alike are questioning whether the show can recover from the backlash.